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Publisher's Summary

The internationally best-selling author of Into the Wilderness makes her highly anticipated return with a remarkable epic about two female doctors in 19th-century New York and the transcendent power of courage and love.

The year is 1883, and in New York City it's a time of dizzying splendor, crushing poverty, and tremendous change. With the gravity-defying Brooklyn Bridge nearly complete and New York in the grips of antivice crusader Anthony Comstock, Anna Savard and her cousin, Sophie - both graduates of the Woman's Medical School - treat the city's most vulnerable, even if doing so may put everything they've strived for in jeopardy.

Anna's work has placed her in the path of four children who have lost everything, just as she herself once had. Faced with their helplessness, Anna must make an unexpected choice between holding on to the pain of her past and letting love into her life.

For Sophie, an obstetrician and the orphaned daughter of free people of color, helping a desperate young mother forces her to grapple with the oath she took as a doctor - and thrusts her and Anna into the orbit of Comstock, a dangerous man who considers himself the enemy of everything indecent and of anyone who dares to defy him.

With its vivid depictions of old New York and its enormously appealing characters, The Gilded Hour is a captivating, emotionally gripping novel that proves Sara Donati is an author at the height of her powers.

Slow and plodding. More textbook than novel.

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

I made it about 23 chapters. There's a mystery of where some orphans ended up who were separated from each other. But, the story would take a turn where there would be a wedding and that became the focus forever in minute details, then another wedding, this and that.

The book starts out more like a novel that happens to teach you some history, but it's like the author couldn't keep that up and it became very apparent her mission was to educate. So there'd be info on contraceptives from that period and lengthy explanations about medical procedures used back then, and women's rights and orphans, and people of mixed races.

I cared about the characters, but the story just became so plodding and kept taking turns into other textbook subjects....ugh, I just couldn't make myself listen to another 20 chapters to find out, finally, what happened to the orphans.

The performer is perfect. If she wasn't so good, I wouldn't have made it this far.

What do you think your next listen will be?

I need something faster moving. Maybe a crime thriller to wake me up.

Which character – as performed by Cassandra Campbell – was your favorite?

Hmmm, I guess Jack, the love interest of the main female doctor. He's down-to-earth and practical and loveable.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from The Gilded Hour?

All of the lengthy descriptions of medical procedures. Anything where the writing becomes textbook teaching, instead of novel story-telling. I'd suggest the story sticks to the main focus of finding the orphans, keeping the reader engaged. There are just too many side stories that become the main focus for too long.

Any additional comments?

I like to learn history with historical fiction. But, I want the emphasis to be fiction, a good story. If I want to learn the technical procedures or laws for this and that, I'll pick up a textook.

Disappointed in ending/lack of resolution to plot

I did enjoy this book, but I am disappointed that the author leaves open ends on the main story lines. I understand that there will be a sequel, but it's not currently released. I'm not sure if it's even been written.

After investing over 30 hours listening to this book I expected some sort of resolution at the end. I'm not sure that I'll read anything else by this author if this is her style. I didn't like the novel enough to reinvest another 30 hours of listening to refresh my memory/interest when she gets around to releasing the next book in the series.

Historical romance, surgical implements too!

Although I've never read a Sara Donati book, I see that she has quite a tidy list of previous novels. So it's probably safe to say that she and her publishers know what they are doing.

I am interested in how medicine was practiced back in the late 1800s, and this book served my curiosity well. First and foremost, this is a romance novel, with lots of randy scenes between the two main characters. Had this been the only draw, I'd have stopped my listen.

But this book is also a well-researched tome on women's role in medicine back in the Gilded Age. It also features forensic medicine, a la Kathy Reichs of "Bones" fame, at its brith. And there's more:--it's an immigrant novel,--it's a mixed race novel,--it's a novel about prejudice, not just in terms of color, but in terms of country of origin, poverty, women, Catholics, Jews, cops, the wealthy, and, well...not much escapes.--it's a novel about family and losing family,--it's about the power of the church--and, of course, the power of love.

What did you like best about this story?

I enjoy long books that give one a chance to deeply know the characters. Or, if the characters aren't all that well crafted, at least you get a good story. This is not a literary historical work, such as you might find with Kevin Baker's books about New York, but I found I enjoyed it a lot.

Which scene was your favorite?

I enjoyed the scenes having to do with the practice of medicine. In particular, I recall a very well-crafted scene of a surgeon demonstrating a gynecological procedure to a group of male medical students. Every aspect was clear--and horrifying; the patient's terror at the impending procedure, her shame at having her body so exposed to gaping eyes, the pomposity of the physician, who spouted the general thoughts of the day, that women had smaller brains, were not designed to do anything other than be mothers, were hysterical, and inferior in every way to men.

So glad to live in this day and age! Phew!

Was The Gilded Hour worth the listening time?

The listening time was one of the things I enjoyed most. A very long story, with lots of characters, various story lines that all intertwine.

Straight Plot

The reader for thus audio book was very good. She performed accents well, and did good voices.

However, the story was not as exciting as billed by the editors. None of the plots were strong, and they were very linear. The romance was predictable and relatively uninteresting. The murder plot was also lackluster, although had potential. Unfortunately, if this book is the first in a series nothing was so compelling that I would read or listen to a second.

Awesome book!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, definitely! The story (Sara Donati) and the story telling (Cassandra Cambell) are a first rate!

Any additional comments?

If you have an interest in well written, well read historical novels, don't overlook Sara Donati (aka Rosina Lippi), especially when read by Cassandra Campbell! I didn't want the book to end and luckily it appears to be the first book in a series. Unluckily, I am an impatient waiter and want the next book NOW, lol).Kudos for both Sara Donati and Cassandra Campbell - so well done!

Lots going on in this 30+ hr novel!

I'm with the other reviewer (Annie M) regarding this book on just about every point.

I, too, would have stopped reading if it had only been romance. I didn't realize it was going to be heavy on the romance. It was better than most, even the tastefully done sex scenes, but I could have done with less.

The medical stuff was really interesting, much of it quite technical.

I also enjoyed the unexpected murder mystery that appears about 20 hrs. into the book!

I was disappointed in Sophie's plot line. Many of the plot lines aren't really wrapped up so I'm thinking there will be another book?

What drove me crazy: Anna and Sophie constantly give a &quot;low hum&quot; in response to questions. What? I'm guessing a non-committal, &quot;Mmmmmm.&quot; Anna's jaw is constantly dropping and then &quot;clicking.&quot; And Anna always seems to &quot;have the idea.&quot;

Disappointing

This book is clearly well researched, and starts so promising. But the characterization is weak and the plot falls apart as soon as the romance starts. While we're told the main characters are strong, independent doctors, very little of that comes through once they fall in love. The side characters are flat, stereotyped, and lacking any depth.

About 10 hours in, the plot stagnates, and we get instead long, romantic, unrealistic conversations and monologues. Disappointing for such a promising beginning.

Wonderful characterizations; wonderful story

Any additional comments?

Historical novels often short-change the history; this one did not. I even found myself seeking out maps of NYC in the 1880s and picturing myself there! Occasionally I was confused as to which character was speaking, and I had hoped for more attention to the speech patterns of the era (the dialogue sounded very contemporary) but I truly enjoyed the book. A great story, told with humor, depth, and the emotions of the time. I was enthralled.

Three major subplots left up in the air

Any additional comments?

In the many years I have been a member of Audible, I have never before felt compelled to write a review. In over 33 hours, the author of this book introduces and develops a number of major subplots, at three of which are left unresolved at the end. The topics were interesting and educational, but it seemed as if the author just ended the story when she got tired of writing. Even if this were Book 1 of a series, I would have been left incredulous.